ECC 2:3 Parallel Verse View

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Text critical issues=minor/spelling Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

Key: khaki:verbs.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the OET-RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

BrLXX Καὶ κατεσκεψάμην εἰ ἡ καρδία μου ἑλκύσει ὡς οἶνον τὴν σάρκα μου, καὶ καρδία μου ὡδήγησεν ἐν σοφίᾳ, καὶ τοῦ κρατῆσαι ἐπʼ εὐφροσύνην, ἕως οὗ ἴδω ποῖον τὸ ἀγαθὸν τοῖς υἱοῖς τῶν ἀνθρώπων, ὃ ποιήσουσιν ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον, ἀριθμὸν ἡμερῶν ζωῆς αὐτῶν.
(Kai kateskepsamaʸn ei haʸ kardia mou helkusei hōs oinon taʸn sarka mou, kai kardia mou hōdaʸgaʸsen en sofia, kai tou krataʸsai epʼ eufrosunaʸn, heōs hou idō poion to agathon tois huiois tōn anthrōpōn, ho poiaʸsousin hupo ton haʸlion, arithmon haʸmerōn zōaʸs autōn.)

BrTr And I examined whether my heart would excite my flesh as with wine, (though my heart guided me in wisdom,) and I desired to lay hold of mirth, until I should see of what kind is the good to the sons of men, which they should do under the sun all the days of their life.

ULT I explored in my heart to drag my flesh with wine (and my heart was guiding me with wisdom) and to seize folly until I could see where is the good for the sons of humanity that they might do under the heavens during the number of the days of their lives.

UST So, I thought deeply about the effect that indulging myself with wine or letting myself behave stupidly might have on me. All the while, I remained sober and alert. I thought about this up to the point that I could discern through my experiences the best use of humanity’s short lives on this earth.

BSB I sought to cheer my body with wine and to embrace folly—my mind still guiding me with wisdom—until I could see what [was] worthwhile for men to do under heaven during the few days of their lives.

MSB (Same as BSB above)

OEB No OEB ECC book available

WEBBE I searched in my heart how to cheer my flesh with wine, my heart yet guiding me with wisdom, and how to lay hold of folly, until I might see what it was good for the sons of men that they should do under heaven all the days of their lives.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET I thought deeply about the effects of indulging myself with wine
⇔ (all the while my mind was guiding me with wisdom)
⇔ and the effects of behaving foolishly,
⇔ so that I might discover what is profitable
⇔ for people to do on earth during the few days of their lives.

LSV I have sought in my heart to draw out with wine my appetite (and my heart leading in wisdom), and to take hold on folly until I see where this [is]—the good to the sons of man of that which they do under the heavens, the number of the days of their lives.

FBV Then I used my mind to examine the attraction[fn] of wine to my body. My mind still guiding me with wisdom, I took it until I acted like a fool,[fn] so that I might see whether this was good for people to do during their time here.

2:3 The word used means to “draw” or “attract.”

2:3 Some believe that this means the Teacher became drunk in this “experiment.” The phrase is literally, “I grasped (it) until folly.”

T4T So, after thinking a lot about it, I decided to ◄cheer myself/cause myself to be happy► by drinking a lot of wine. So while I was still trying to be wise, I decided to do things that many people do to be happy during the short time that they are alive on the earth.

LEB I also _⌊explored_⌋[fn] _⌊the effects of indulging my flesh_⌋[fn] with wine. My mind guiding me with wisdom, _⌊I investigated_⌋[fn] folly so that I might discover what is good under heaven[fn] for _⌊humans_⌋[fn] to do _⌊during the days of their lives_⌋.[fn]

2:3 Literally “I searched in my mind”

2:3 Literally “to cheer my flesh”

2:3 Literally “laid hold of”

2:3 Follows MT; two medieval Hebrew manuscripts, LXX, Peshitta read, “under the sun,” cf. 1:3, 9, etc.

2:3 Literally “the sons of the man”

2:3 Literally “the number of the days of their lives”

BBE I made a search with my heart to give pleasure to my flesh with wine, still guiding my heart with wisdom, and to go after foolish things, so that I might see what was good for the sons of men to do under the heavens all the days of their life.

Moff I searched my mind how to pamper my body with wine (keeping control of myself wisely all the time), how to come by folly, till I could see how best the sons of men might fare under the sun during the few days of their life.

JPS I searched in my heart how to pamper my flesh with wine, and, my heart conducting itself with wisdom, how yet to lay hold on folly, till I might see which it was best for the sons of men that they should do under the heaven the few days of their life.

ASV I searched in my heart how to cheer my flesh with wine, my heart yet guiding me with wisdom, and how to lay hold on folly, till I might see what it was good for the sons of men that they should do under heaven all the days of their life.

DRA I thought in my heart, to withdraw my flesh from wine, that I might turn my mind to wisdom, and might avoid folly, till I might see what was profitable for the children of men: and what they ought to do under the sun, all the days of their life.

YLT I have sought in my heart to draw out with wine my appetite, (and my heart leading in wisdom), and to take hold on folly till that I see where [is] this — the good to the sons of man of that which they do under the heavens, the number of the days of their lives.

Drby I searched in my heart how to cherish my flesh with wine, while practising my heart with wisdom; and how to lay hold on folly, till I should see what was that good for the children of men which they should do under the heavens all the days of their life.

RV I searched in mine heart how to cheer my flesh with wine, mine heart yet guiding me with wisdom, and how to lay hold on folly, till I might see what it was good for the sons of men that they should do under the heaven all the days of their life.

SLT I examined in my heart to draw my flesh with wine, and my heart led in wisdom; and to lay hold upon folly till that I shall see what this good to the sons of man which they will do under the heavens the number of the days of their life.

Wbstr I sought in my heart, to give myself to wine, yet acquainting my heart with wisdom; and to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was that good for the sons of men, which they should do under the heaven all the days of their life.

KJB-1769 I sought in mine heart to give myself unto wine, yet acquainting mine heart with wisdom; and to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was that good for the sons of men, which they should do under the heaven all the days of their life.[fn][fn]

2.3 to give…: Heb. to draw my flesh with wine

2.3 all…: Heb. the number of the days of their life

KJB-1611 [fn][fn]I sought in mine heart to giue my selfe vnto wine, (yet acquainting mine heart with wisedome) and to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was that good for the sonnes of men, which they should doe vnder the heauen all the dayes of their life.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from punctuation and footnotes)

2:3 Hebr. to draw my flesh with wine.

2:3 Hebr. the number of the dayes of their life.

Bshps So I thought in my heart to geue my fleshe vnto wine, and agayne to apply my mynde vnto wisdome, and to comprehende foolishnesse: vntyll the tyme that among all the thynges which are vnder the sunne, I myght see what were best for men to do so long as they liue vnder heauen.
(So I thought in my heart to give my flesh unto wine, and again to apply my mind unto wisdom, and to comprehend foolishness: until the time that among all the things which are under the sun, I might see what were best for men to do so long as they live under heaven.)

Gnva I sought in mine heart to giue my selfe to wine, and to leade mine heart in wisdome, and to take holde of follie, till I might see where is that goodnesse of the children of men, which they enioy vnder the sunne: the whole nomber of the dayes of their life.
(I sought in mine heart to give myself to wine, and to lead mine heart in wisdom, and to take hold of folly, till I might see where is that goodness of the children of men, which they enjoy under the sun: the whole number of the days of their life.)

Cvdl So I thought in my herte, to withdrawe my flesh from wyne, to applye my mynde vnto wy?dome, and to comprehede foolishnes vntill the tyme that (amonge all ye thinges which are vnder ye Sonne) I might se what were best for men to do, so longe as they lyue vnder heauen.
(So I thought in my heart, to withdraw my flesh from wine, to apply my mind unto wisdom, and to comprehend foolishness until the time that (among all ye/you_all things which are under ye/you_all Sonne) I might see what were best for men to do, so long as they live under heaven.)

Wycl I thouyte in myn herte to withdrawe my fleisch fro wyn, that Y schulde lede ouer my soule to wisdom, and that Y schulde eschewe foli, til Y schulde se, what were profitable to the sones of men; in which dede the noumbre of daies of her lijf vndur the sunne is nedeful.
(I thought in mine heart to withdraw my flesh from wine, that I should lead over my soul to wisdom, and that I should eschewe folly, till I should see, what were profitable to the sons of men; in which deed the number of days of her life under the sun is needful.)

Luth Da dachte ich in meinem Herzen, meinen Leib vom Wein zu ziehen und mein Herz zur Weisheit zu ziehen, daß ich ergriffe, was Torheit ist, bis ich lernete, was den Menschen gut wäre, das sie tun sollten, solange sie unter dem Himmel leben.
(So thought I in my heart(s), my body from_the wine to/for pull and my heart to/for wise_(people) to/for pull, that I seized, what/which folly is, until I learnt, what/which the people good were, the they/she/them do/put should, as_long_as they/she/them under to_him heaven life.)

ClVg Cogitavi in corde meo abstrahere a vino carnem meam, ut animam meam transferrem ad sapientiam, devitaremque stultitiam, donec viderem quid esset utile filiis hominum, quo facto opus est sub sole numero dierum vitæ suæ.[fn]
(I_thought in/into/on heart mine abstrahere from wine the_flesh of_mine, as the_soul of_mine I_would_transfer to wisdom, avoidremque stupidity, until I_would_see what was useful to_the_children of_men, where done work/need it_is under the_sun number days of_life his/her_own.)

2.3 Cogitavi in corde. ID. Ebrietas, etc., usque ad quid vitandum.

2.3 I_thought in/into/on heart. ID. Ebrietas, etc., until to what vitandum.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

תַּ֣רְתִּי בְ⁠לִבִּ֔⁠י

explored in,heart_of,my

The word heart here represents a person’s thoughts and desires. Solomon means that his mind was guiding him with wisdom even as he explored folly. You may have a comparable expression in your language, or you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [I explored in my thoughts … my thoughts were guiding me with wisdom]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

לִ⁠מְשׁ֥וֹךְ בַּ⁠יַּ֖יִן בְּשָׂרִ֑⁠י

to,gratify with,wine (Some words not found in UHB: explored in,heart_of,my to,gratify with,wine DOM flesh_of,my and,heart_of,my guiding with,wisdom and,to,take_hold on,folly until which/who see where? this good for,the_children_of the=humankind which/who do below/instead_of the=heavens few_of days_of their_lives_of,their )

Solomon is using the number of the days of their lives as a common expression of the culture to mean “their entire lifetime.” If this phrase does not have that meaning for your readers, you could use a comparable expression from your language that does have that meaning, or you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [to drag my flesh with wine … their entire lifetime]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

בַּֽ⁠חָכְמָה֙

with,wisdom

Solomon is using the sons of humanity as a common expression of the culture to mean “people” or “human beings.” If this phrase does not have that meaning for your readers, you could use a comparable expression from your language that does have that meaning, or you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [people]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

בְּ⁠סִכְל֔וּת

on,folly

Solomon is using the possessive form to describe deeds that he himself performed. If a speaker of your language would not use the possessive form for this, you could express this idea in another way. Alternate translation: [to behave foolishly]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

לִ⁠בְנֵ֤י הָ⁠אָדָם֙

for,the_children_of the=humankind

Solomon says I enlarged my deeds as an extreme statement for emphasis. He means that he did very many impressive things. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a different way to express the emphasis. Alternate translation: [human beings]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

תַּ֣חַת הַ⁠שָּׁמַ֔יִם

below/instead_of the=heavens

The word translated as for myself indicates that Solomon did these things for his own benefit and enjoyment. Use a construction in your language that makes it clear that the action was done for his own sake. Alternate translation: [for their own benefit on this earth]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

מִסְפַּ֖ר יְמֵ֥י חַיֵּי⁠הֶֽם

few_of days_of their_lives_of,their

Solomon is using the possessive form to describe pools that are characterized by containing waters. If a speaker of your language would not use the possessive form for this, you could express this idea in another way. Alternate translation: [during all the days they live]

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

מִסְפַּ֖ר יְמֵ֥י חַיֵּי⁠הֶֽם

few_of days_of their_lives_of,their

Solomon is using sons of the house as a common expression of the culture to mean “slaves born in my household.” If this phrase does not have that meaning for your readers, you could use a comparable expression from your language that does have that meaning, or you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [for as long as they live]

Note 9 topic: writing-background

וְ⁠לִבִּ֞⁠י נֹהֵ֤ג בַּֽ⁠חָכְמָה֙

and,heart_of,my guiding with,wisdom

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of folly, you could express the same idea in another way.

Note 10 topic: figures-of-speech / personification

וְ⁠לִבִּ֞⁠י נֹהֵ֤ג בַּֽ⁠חָכְמָה֙

and,heart_of,my guiding with,wisdom

Solomon says all as a generalization for emphasis. He means that he did a great many impressive things, not necessarily every possible deed. If it would be clearer in your language, you could express the emphasis in a different way. Alternate translation: [and I was still guiding myself with wisdom]

Parallel ECC 2:3